The Waka Maori. WELLINGTON, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1874. THE PARLIAMENT.

Waka Maori, Volume 10, Issue 20, 6 October 1874, Page 246

The Waka Maori. WELLINGTON, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1874. THE PARLIAMENT.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday, 21st August, 1874. WAIAPU POLICE. The Hon. Mr. Mokena Kohere asked the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Whether it is the intention of the Government to send police into the Waiapu district, in accordance with a promise made by the Hon. the Native Minister last year? The Hon. Dr. Pollen" replied that it was the intention of the Government to send some police into the district as soon as possible. The promise which had been made to the honorable gentleman last year, and to which he referred, would have been fulfilled earlier were it not for the absence of the Native Minister from the colony. HOUSE. WHANGANUI FORESHORE GRANT BILL. Mr. Reynolds said this Bill had been introduced, m an n.nnlination made bv the honor-

numbers with, their produce, and who would have no place to lay their canoes alongside of, unless such a reservation were made. A reserve of about an acre in extent would be sufficient. Mr. Bryce (member for Whanganui) said he was sure the corporate body of Whanganui would do everything that was just and reasonable in the matter, and would make a sufficient reservation, and afford every facility to the Natives to trade with the town, if for no other reason, at all events because the trade with the Natives was very important to the town. Mr. SnEEHAisr would point out that there was a case of great hardship in the city of Auckland in respect to the Natives. "When the harbour was handed over to the Provincial Council, there was a place where the Natives could bring their produce and camp down; but they were bundled out of it, and then went to another place, out of which they were also bundled, so that now they had no place to go but one very far from the market and very inconvenient. He trusted the honorable member would take the matter ir.to consideration, and induce the harbour authorities at Auckland to set aside some place where the Natives could sell their produce. Mr. Karaitiauta Takamoaua approved of the proposal with regard to the Natives at Whanganui. He should like to see similar provision made at Napier for the convenience of the Natives coming from the Wairoa. There was no place at Napier where the Natives could sell their produce. Mr. Fox hoped a clause would be inserted in the Bill making it incumbent on the Municipal Corporation of Whanganui to set apart a place where the Natives could dispose of their produce. Mr. Swanson" was not opposed to giving facilities to the Natives for selling their produce, but he hoped the G-overnment would see that the market was properly managed, and kept in a state of cleanliness and good order. The real reason why the Auckland harbour authorities had the Maori "market-place removed from the wharf was, that it was not kept in a cleanly state. The Natives never cleaned the place, and left every kind of rubbish there, which was most offensive to the public. Mr. Reynolds, in reply, said if the honorable gentleman would consult with the Native Minister and himself, a proper arrangement could be come to before the Bill went into Committee. If the Corporation declined to give the promised facilities to the Natives, the Government would be justified in introducing a Bill to compel them to do so. He did not anticipate that there would be any difficulty in the matter. Bill read a second time. On the 25th of August it was read a third time and passed. Tuesday, 25tii August, 1874. AHIKOUKA NATIVE CLAIMS BILL. This was a Bill to grant another rehearing in the above case. Sir D. McLean said the object of this Bill was to settle a dispute which had been long pending between Woirarn™ with rftf(RTPnce°to a Dar-

established such a right to the land, that if the facts had been made known to the Court, the title, in all probability, would have gone in his favour. < Mr. Bea^don opposed the Bil], and spoke at considerable length on the subject. He said he had ascertained by inquiry that the Committee of Native chiefs who were appointed to inquire into the matter went out and saw Ngatuere; but as to making inquiries from the true owners, and taking evidence on the other side, they did nothing of the kind. They came back and reported that certain evidence had been taken by them, which was ex parte. Sir D. McLean said there was no question at all that, on subsequent inquiry and full investigation of this claim, the land was found to belong to two parties. The persons who conducted that investigation went to the spot. Matiaha and his people were present, and so was Ngatuere. The matter was publicly conducted, in the presence of both parties. A body of independent chiefs were sent up, who had no interest in the land. They were selected from distant districts, in order that their judgment in the matter should be as impartial as possible.. They reported,— "The Committee has listened attentively to the evidence of Ngatuere and Matiaha, their tribes and witnesses, who appeared to give evidence on behalf of the two parties. " The Committee is of opinion that Ngatuere has a claim to this block of land, through his ancestors, whose plantations were there, those also of his parents, and, latterly, his own. He has a claim, also, through length of occupation. The witnesses who appeared on behalf of Matiaha (belonging to the Ngatimuratu and ~Ngatiwhakawhena tribes) admitted this. " The decision of the Committee is, that the boundary line should follow that of the surveyor, as marked on the map,commencing at the lower end of Te Paioro, following the surveyor's (William Skeet) line till it reached Waiohine towards the northern part of the Ahikouka; from thence following the Waiohine Uiver till it reaches the point from which it commenced. " That part towards the south-west of the said line belongs to Matiaha Mokai and his tribes, the Ngatimuratu and Ngatiwhakawhena." Several other members spoke on this subject, and, eventually, the Bill was passed through all its stages. In the Representative Council, however, on the 27th of August, on the motion of the Hon. Mr. Mantell, the second reading of the Bill was adjourned for a week. In the meantime the Parliament was prorogued, and the Bill, therefore, did not become law.